alibi
UK[ˈæl.ɪ.baɪ]US[ˈæl.ə.baɪ]
n
A claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.
n
An excuse or explanation intended to avoid blame or justify a failure.
v
To provide an alibi for someone or to offer an excuse.
Etymology
The word 'alibi' entered English in the 18th century directly from the Latin adverb 'alibi', meaning "in or at another place." In Latin, it is a compound of 'alius' ("other") and the locative suffix '-bi' (meaning "where"), thus its literal core is "elsewhere." Its journey into the legal and then general English lexicon is a straightforward case of semantic borrowing: the factual statement of being elsewhere became the formal defense against an accusation, and later broadened to mean any excuse. The logic is transparent, moving from a simple locative descriptor to a specialized legal term and finally to a common noun and verb denoting exculpatory evidence or justification.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Latin, adopted as an indivisible simplex in English. Its Latin form 'alibi' functions as an adverb meaning "elsewhere, in another place."
Examples
The suspect had a solid alibi, as he was filmed attending a conference in another city at the time of the robbery.
His only alibi for missing the deadline was a faulty internet connection.
The witness was reluctant to alibi the defendant, fearing it would implicate her in the crime.